A dad was told that he only had ‘days left to live’ after suffering from appalling headaches for 10 years.
Luke Taylor, a civil engineer from Warrington, Cheshire, has spoken about the shock of receiving a life-changing diagnosis after years of being unwell.
The 27-year-old had endured severe headaches for a decade, alongside nausea, with episodes that sometimes left him vomiting for days.
He repeatedly sought medical help and says he was reassured by his GP that his symptoms were “just migraines” and that he was “healthy”.
“One day, I was fed up with my headaches – they were getting worse and worse – I wanted to cry with the pain,” he said.
By July 2025, his condition worsened dramatically, with migraines and sickness hitting several times a day.
He was eventually referred for an MRI, which revealed a haemangioblastoma — a tumour that can develop in the brain or spinal cord — and Luke’s was described as being the size of a golf ball.
Medics warned that without urgent surgery, his prognosis could have been measured in days.
“When you get news like that, you go into yourself,” he said. “Your mind races, you don’t want to speak to anyone, you think your life is done.
“I was 26 when I was diagnosed. I had the rest of my life ahead of me, I have a daughter, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell my family.
“They said if I didn’t have emergency surgery, I could have days to live. I thought I was going to die.”
Following the diagnosis, Luke underwent a nine-hour operation at Walton Hospital in Liverpool, and later learned surgeons had managed to remove the tumour.
However, the situation took another turn.
Luke’s partner, Nia Jones, described the moments after the procedure and the frightening update that followed.
Luke’s partner Nia Jones said: “I saw Luke after his operation – he was very erratic. He was slurring his words and couldn’t open his eyes.
“Then a day after the surgery, we were told he had a bleed on the brain and had to go back in for emergency surgery.”
Luke spent 18 days in hospital before being allowed home, but his recovery was still in the early stages and his health remained fragile.
“Luke had to relearn how to walk, speak again, and use his hands,” said Nia. “He couldn’t dress himself or even cut up his own food.
“Every day was frustrating, exhausting, and emotional – for both of us – but we were determined to do everything possible to help him recover. “
In November 2025, Luke was given the news he had been hoping for: doctors confirmed the surgery had worked.
“I was overwhelmed when they told me the surgery was successful,” Luke said. “I cried my eyes out, I was so happy they got it all.”
Now, he is focused on increasing awareness of brain tumours and fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Joanna Moss, Director of Services at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Faster diagnosis of brain tumours is vital.
“That’s why The Brain Tumour Charity works with healthcare professionals to increase their confidence in recognising signs and symptoms, and in referring for scans if they are at all concerned.”
To support that effort, Luke, Nia, his sister Leah and her partner Gary are planning to tackle three Yorkshire peaks in a single day on July 18 2026.
Nia said: “We have gone through a lot with the family. We wanted to raise money for the charity that has supported us throughout, and show support to others.”
She added: “We want to show people that there is light at the end of the tunnel and people can get through this.”